Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-17
three years. He had always borne a

J. J. Long, Treasurer OF Wheeler coun-
ty, had known Judge Willis since 1881.
Mr.. Long owned saloon. Gambling
was carried on in his house. He was not
indicted when the other gamblers were
prosecuted. He had seen Judge Willis
in the saloon, but not in the back room
where gambling was carried on. Judge
Willis bore an excellent reputation and
was considered good Judge.
Adlutant General King had some cor
respCndence with Judge Willis about fur
nishing him rangers to help enforce the
law. l think the last Letter was about
two years ago.
This is common for judges on the from
tier, sometimes to ask for rangers in spe
cial cases and sometimes to enforce the
law generally.
The defendants counsel then intro
duced a letter from Attorney General
Templeton to Judge Willis which was
read, calling attention to his failure to en-
force The laws against the unlawful in
closure of state lands.
o. Z. Nelson, one OF the members of
the Panhandle Stock Association, and at
one time president, said: Being one of
the parties indicted, can say l did not
authorize any attorney TO represent me in
my absence. did not know that | had
been indicted, tried or acquitted until
after the trials were over and l saw an
account of it published in the Fort Worth
GAZETTE while en- route to my ranch.
The executive committee of the associa-
ton gave the District Attorney, Wood
man, Sheriff Gentry of Donley county
and Sheriff Arlington of Wheeler county
q n N
respective offices in order to get good
men to fill the offices. never directly or
Indirectly approached Judge Willis, or
even heard of one of the association ap-
preaching him to offer bonus. The as
ISOLATION at one time stopped WCodman's
bonus, but after the January term of the
Donley court the association paid him,
but not Tor the purpose of shielding
any of its members in the unlawful land
Enclosure suits. l was president of the
association when we made the trade
with Arlington and Gentry about their
bonuses or salaries. These salaries or
bonuses began with their terms of office.
My partner, Mr.. Buggy, put Mr.. J. n.
Browning to represent me in the cases
where was indicted. OF course, knew
nothing of it st the time, but of course
ratified it afterward. l never was notl-
fed while the trial was going on. Good
night and myself are doing all we can to
help Judge Willis, because we think he is
much prosecuted man. l think it is as
much suit against the cattlemen
as Judge Willis. l had talk with Hon.
James n. Browning since | came here.
He said he would take a neutral ground:
that there were about forty lawyers in the
House and the balance were grangers, and
that Judge Willis stood about as much
show as q stump-tailed bull in fly
time. l don't know single fact that
happened at Clarendon during Judge
Willis term of court. Goodnight and
myself kept Judge Willis from resign
ing.
Charles Goodnight, President of the
Panhandle Association, said: have been
on the frontier ever since 1916. When l
went to the Panhandle there was no law
and order, but now there is no better
order anywhere. | know Judge Willis to
be man of good reputation. l know
all abont the indictments. l
went out of the grand jury room
when my cases came up and told the boys
to consider them. l presented the bills
in court. l never approached Judge Will
lis in any way relative TO his action as
District Judge. My understanding with
District Attorney Woodman about the
bonus was that he was to be paid by the
association to enforce the general laws
against criminals, especially cattle
thieves. He acknowledged that
Eve of the jurymen who
sat on the trial of his cases were in his
employ. Mr.. Nelson and myself kept
Judge Willis from resigning. l met
Judge Willis in Glss' saloon and told
him all aGout the Attorney Generals let
ter, and considered it tight against the
cattle men and the people Of the Pan
handle am here to do all car to help
Judge Willis cut.